Fabricio Werdum is determined to add to his legacy by winning the PFL heavyweight tournament – multiple times. The 43-year-old Brazilian legend (24-9-1) became a free agent after a vintage win against Alexander Gustafsson by submission in July on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. He decided to weigh his options and tested the market in the wake of not signing an extension with the UFC. After negotiations seemingly fell apart with Bellator, Werdum signed an exclusive contract with the Professional Fighters League and he credits his manager Ali Abdelaziz and PFL president Ray Sefo for getting the deal done. “For me, Ali is the best manager ever now,” Werdum told SCMP MMA. “He had a good negotiation with the PFL. I respect Ray Sefo a lot. Before when I fought in Pride in Japan, I see him fight in K1. He’s an amazing fighter, I love him. “I saw the respect PFL have for fighters. This is very important to us. When the event has a big respect, you want to show that. You want to prepare your body to give a show, too.” The former UFC heavyweight champion is not foreign to the tournament format – Werdum competed in the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix in 2011 and the 2006 openweight grand prix under the Pride banner. UFC 256: Dana White lauds ‘greatest fight in flyweight history’ Even though he was ousted in the quarter-finals on both occasions, the Brazilian is smitten with the idea of redemption and expanding his long list of accolades with the PFL, where the winners of each weight class tournament receive a US$1 million cheque. “I never had two fights in one night. I think it is a very good opportunity. In 2021, I want to fight maybe four or five fights. This is my goal now, be a champ for sure. I don’t go there just to fight, I go to be a champion. “The same thing I did with jiu-jitsu competition, I got it two times. Grappling, you know ADCC, I got it two times. The UFC, I have two belts at home and now I want one more belt. The PFL belt, this is my big goal. I put on the PFL T-shirt, I’m 100 per cent PFL.” With the other heavyweight participants being part of the next generation, there will be a lot of talk about Werdum’s age and he automatically becomes a target for any young fighter trying to make a name. “I know there will be a lot of attention when I have a fight in April, for sure,” he said. “But I don’t feel [like] the target yet. I just go there, like 100 per cent my mind is OK, my body is OK. I beat everybody there. For sure, I respect the fighters. I don’t like to trash talk every time. “But if somebody say something to me, I respond. I won’t stay quiet. I like when a guy say something. But I like to show inside the cage, inside the fight. This is the best for me, like a martial artist.”